Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

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According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, over 4,000 motorcycle riders have died in U.S. collisions each year over the past ten years. That means that more than ten riders lose their lives everyday due to circumstances that in most cases could – and in many cases should – have been avoided. Many of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents can be avoided if drivers and the government agencies responsible for maintaining the roads exercise reasonable care.

At Bottaro Law Firm, we provide aggressive legal representation for motorcycle accident victims and their families in Massachusetts. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients, and we pursue each case with our passionate attention to detail and relentless will to win. If you need help following a motorcycle accident, you can count on the experienced legal team at Bottaro Law Firm to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the most common – and also most dangerous – forms of driver negligence. Distracted driving accounts for over 400,000 injuries every year, and it only takes a split second of loss of concentration for a driver to cause a serious motorcycle accident. Some of the most common forms of distracted driving include:

Texting and sending emails

Talking on the phone (both handheld and hands-free)

Talking to passengers

Setting playlists and GPS directions

Eating and drinking

Speeding

Speeding is another leading cause of motorcycle accidents. Speeding drivers frequently cause both rear-end and head-on collisions, often resulting in serious or fatal injuries for innocent riders. Other forms of aggressive driving – tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and running red lights – are common culprits in motorcycle accidents as well.

Failure to Yield

Whether due to inattentiveness or failure look out for motorcycles, drivers often cause motorcycle accidents by turning or changing lanes into and in front of oncoming riders. For whatever reason, many drivers seem to think that motorcycle riders either do not have the same rights as “cage” drivers, or else that they will simply get out of the drivers’ way. Since failures to yield typically involve sudden actions, they are particularly prone to causing injuries to unsuspecting riders.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Driving under the influence puts drivers and everyone around them at risk of being injured in an accident. Erratic driving caused by alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription medications is particularly dangerous for motorcycle riders, who may be forced to lay their bikes down if there is nowhere to go to avoid an accident. Among riders, riding while intoxicated is also one of the leading causes of both single-vehicle and multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents.

Gravel, Slick Spots, and Debris

In addition to various forms of driver error, another common cause of motorcycle accidents is the presence of gravel, oil, and other foreign substances on the surface of the road. Gravel, sand, oil, leaves, and other forms of debris are particularly dangerous when hidden around bends. Riders leaning into turns may be unable to compensate for sudden road hazards in their line of travel. These dangerous conditions often lead to lowside accidents when motorcycle tires break traction, and highside accidents when riders overcompensate in an attempt to avoid losing control.

These accidents can become extremely dangerous if the road has close guardrails or if there are vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.

Other Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

In addition to the causes discussed above, other factors that commonly contribute to motorcycle accidents include:

Contact Bottaro Law Firm for a Free Case Evaluation Today

Our attorneys have decades of experience helping motorcycle riders and other accident victims fight for just compensation. Regardless of the cause of your motorcycle accident, if someone else is to blame, we will fight to recover money for your medical bills, missed time from work, and other losses. To get started with a free consultation, call (866) 529-9700 or contact us online today.

$500,000.00 – This case involved an elderly couple and their granddaughter who were injured after a car turned left in front of their vehicle. The injuries for the woman involved a fractured neck, broken ribs, and an eventual stroke. The man suffered from various injuries from which he never recovered, resulting in his untimely death.

$325,000.00 – Our North Kingstown, RI client was injured in a bike accident, fracturing his patella and requiring emergency surgery. We worked with experts, including a life care planner to ensure our client received fair compensation.